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Title: The Naval History of the United States
Volume 2 (of 2)

Author: Willis J. Abbot

Illustrator: H. W. McVicar
W. C. Jackson

Release Date: August 24, 2008 [EBook #26416]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all other inconsistencies are as in the original. The
author's spelling has been maintained.

Page 993: "they were fired upon the Coreans" has been replaced by "they were fired upon by the Coreans".

Page 997: "the rescued part arrived in New York" has been replaced by "the rescued party arrived in New York".

The Table of Contents and the List of Illustration were not present in the original.

BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

OF THE

UNITED STATES

BY

WILLIS J. ABBOT

With Many Illustrations

BY H. W. McVICAR AND W. C. JACKSON

NEW YORK:

PETER FENELON COLLIER, PUBLISHER.

CONTENTS.

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

VOLUME TWO

PART II.

CHAPTER XII.

CAPTURE OF THE "SURVEYOR."—WORK OF THE GUNBOAT FLOTILLA.—OPERATIONS ON CHESAPEAKE BAY.—COCKBURN'S DEPREDATIONS.—

CRUISE OF THE "ARGUS."—HER CAPTURE BY THE "PELICAN."—BATTLE BETWEEN THE "ENTERPRISE" AND "BOXER."—END OF THE YEAR 1813
ON THE OCEAN.

CHAPTER XIII.

ON THE LAKES.—CLOSE OF HOSTILITIES ON LAKES ERIE AND HURON.—DESULTORY WARFARE ON LAKE ONTARIO IN 1813.—HOSTILITIES ON

LAKE ONTARIO IN 1814.—THE BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.—END OF THE WAR UPON THE LAKES.

CHAPTER XIV.

ON THE OCEAN.—THE WORK OF THE SLOOPS-OF-WAR.—LOSS OF THE "FROLIC."—FRUITLESS CRUISE OF THE "ADAMS."—THE "PEACOCK"

TAKES THE "ÉPERVIER."—THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP."—SHE CAPTURES THE "REINDEER."—SINKS THE "AVON."—MYSTERIOUS END OF THE
"WASP".

CHAPTER XV.

OPERATIONS ON THE NEW ENGLAND COAST.—THE BOMBARDMENT OF STONINGTON.—DESTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES CORVETTE

"ADAMS."—OPERATIONS ON CHESAPEAKE BAY.—WORK OF BARNEY'S BARGE FLOTILLA.—ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH UPON WASHINGTON.—
DESTRUCTION OF THE CAPITOL.—OPERATIONS AGAINST BALTIMORE.—BOMBARDMENT OF FORT MCHENRY.

CHAPTER XVI.

DESULTORY HOSTILITIES ON THE OCEAN.—ATTACK UPON FORT BOWYER.—LAFITTE THE PIRATE.—BRITISH EXPEDITION AGAINST NEW

ORLEANS.—BATTLE OF THE RIGOLETS.—ATTACK ON NEW ORLEANS, AND DEFEAT OF THE BRITISH.—WORK OF THE BLUE-JACKETS.—
CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE "PRESIDENT."—THE "CONSTITUTION" TAKES THE "CYANE" AND "LEVANT."—THE "HORNET" TAKES THE
"PENGUIN."—END OF THE WAR.

CHAPTER XVII.

PRIVATEERS AND PRISONS OF THE WAR.—THE "ROSSIE."—SALEM PRIVATEERS.—THE "GEN. ARMSTRONG" GIVES BATTLE TO A BRITISH

SQUADRON, AND SAVES NEW ORLEANS.—NARRATIVE OF A BRITISH OFFICER.—THE "PRINCE DE NEUFCHATEL."—EXPERIENCES OF AMERICAN
PRISONERS OF WAR.—THE END.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE LONG PEACE BROKEN BY THE WAR WITH MEXICO.—ACTIVITY OF THE NAVY.—CAPTAIN STOCKTON'S STRATAGEM.—THE BATTLE AT

SAN JOSE.—THE BLOCKADE.—INSTANCES OF PERSONAL BRAVERY.—THE LOSS OF THE "TRUXTON."—YELLOW FEVER IN THE SQUADRON.—
THE NAVY AT VERA CRUZ.—CAPTURE OF ALVARADO.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE NAVY IN PEACE.—SURVEYING THE DEAD SEA.—SUPPRESSING THE SLAVE TRADE.—THE FRANKLIN RELIEF EXPEDITION.—COMMODORE

PERRY IN JAPAN.—SIGNING OF THE TREATY.—TROUBLE IN CHINESE WATERS.—THE KOSZTA CASE.—THE SECOND FRANKLIN RELIEF
EXPEDITION.—FOOTE AT CANTON.—"BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER".

PART III.

BLUE JACKETS OF '61.

CHAPTER I.

THE OPENING OF THE CONFLICT.—THE NAVIES OF THE CONTESTANTS.—DIX'S FAMOUS DESPATCH.—THE RIVER-GUNBOATS.

CHAPTER II.

FORT SUMTER BOMBARDED.—ATTEMPT OF THE "STAR OF THE WEST" TO RE-ENFORCE ANDERSON.—THE NAVAL EXPEDITION TO FORT

SUMTER.—THE RESCUE OF THE FRIGATE "CONSTITUTION."—BURNING THE NORFOLK NAVY-YARD.

CHAPTER III.

DIFFICULTIES OF THE CONFEDERATES IN GETTING A NAVY.—EXPLOIT OF THE "FRENCH LADY."—NAVAL SKIRMISHING ON THE POTOMAC.—

THE CRUISE OF THE "SUMTER"

CHAPTER IV.

THE POTOMAC FLOTILLA.—CAPTURE OF ALEXANDRIA.—ACTIONS AT MATTHIAS POINT.—BOMBARDMENT OF THE HATTERAS FORTS.

CHAPTER V.

THE "TRENT" AFFAIR.—OPERATIONS IN ALBEMARLE AND PAMLICO SOUNDS.—DESTRUCTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLEET.

CHAPTER VI.

REDUCTION OF NEWBERN.—EXPLOITS OF LIEUT. CUSHING.—DESTRUCTION OF THE RAM "ALBEMARLE".

CHAPTER VII.

THE BLOCKADE-RUNNERS.—NASSAU AND WILMINGTON.—WORK OF THE CRUISERS.

CHAPTER VIII.

DU PONT'S EXPEDITION TO HILTON HEAD AND PORT ROYAL.—THE FIERY CIRCLE.

CHAPTER IX.

THE FIRST IRONCLAD VESSELS IN HISTORY.—THE "MERRIMAC" SINKS THE "CUMBERLAND," AND DESTROYS THE "CONGRESS."—DUEL

BETWEEN THE "MONITOR" AND "MERRIMAC".

CHAPTER X.

THE NAVY IN THE INLAND WATERS.—THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON.—SWEEPING THE TENNESSEE RIVER.

CHAPTER XI.

FAMOUS CONFEDERATE PRIVATEERS,—THE "ALABAMA," THE "SHENANDOAH," THE "NASHVILLE".

CHAPTER XII.

WORK OF THE GULF SQUADRON.—THE FIGHT AT THE PASSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI.—DESTRUCTION OF THE SCHOONER "JUDAH."—THE

BLOCKADE OF GALVESTON, AND CAPTURE OF THE "HARRIET LANE".

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.—FARRAGUT'S FLEET PASSES FORT ST. PHILIP AND FORT JACKSON.

CHAPTER XIV.

ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI.—FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP SURRENDER.—THE BATTLE AT ST. CHARLES.—THE RAM "ARKANSAS."—

BOMBARDMENT AND CAPTURE OF PORT HUDSON.

CHAPTER XV.

ON TO VICKSBURG.—BOMBARDMENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STRONGHOLD.—PORTER'S CRUISE IN THE FORESTS.

CHAPTER XVI.

VICKSBURG SURRENDERS, AND THE MISSISSIPPI IS OPENED.—NAVAL EVENTS ALONG THE GULF COAST.

CHAPTER XVII.

OPERATIONS ABOUT CHARLESTON.—THE BOMBARDMENT, THE SIEGE, AND THE CAPTURE.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE FALL OF FORT FISHER.—THE NAVY ENDS ITS WORK.

PART IV.

BLUE JACKETS IN TIME OF PEACE.

CHAPTER I.

POLICE SERVICE ON THE HIGH SEAS.—WAR SERVICE IN ASIATIC PORTS.—LOSSES BY THE PERILS OF THE DEEP.—A BRUSH WITH THE

PIRATES.—ADMIRAL RODGERS AT COREA.—SERVICES IN ARCTIC WATERS.—THE DISASTER AT SAMOA.—THE ATTACK ON THE "BALTIMORE'S"
MEN AT VALPARAISO.—LOSS OF THE "KEARSARGE."—THE NAVAL REVIEW.

CHAPTER II.

THE NAVAL MILITIA.—A VOLUNTEER SERVICE WHICH IN TIME OF WAR WILL BE EFFECTIVE.—HOW BOYS ARE TRAINED FOR THE LIFE OF A

SAILOR.—CONDITIONS OF ENLISTMENT IN THE VOLUNTEER BRANCH OF THE SERVICE.—THE WORK OF THE SEAGOING MILITIA IN SUMMER.

CHAPTER III.

HOW THE NAVY HAS GROWN.—THE COST AND CHARACTER OF OUR NEW WHITE SHIPS OF WAR.—OUR PERIOD OF NAVAL WEAKNESS AND

OUR ADVANCE TO A PLACE AMONG THE GREAT NAVAL POWERS.—THE NEW DEVICES OF NAVAL WARFARE.—THE TORPEDO, THE DYNAMITE
GUN, AND THE MODERN RIFLE.—ARMOR AND ITS POSSIBILITIES.

PART V.

THE NAVAL WAR WITH SPAIN.

CHAPTER I.

THE STATE OF CUBA.—PERTINACITY OF THE REVOLUTIONISTS.—SPAIN'S SACRIFICES AND FAILURE.—SPANISH BARBARITIES.—THE POLICY

OF RECONCENTRATION.—AMERICAN SYMPATHY AROUSED.—THE STRUGGLE IN CONGRESS.—THE ASSASSINATION OF THE "MAINE."—REPORT OF
THE COMMISSION.—THE ONWARD MARCH TO BATTLE.

CHAPTER II.

THE OPENING DAYS OF THE WAR.—THE FIRST BLOW STRUCK IN THE PACIFIC.—DEWEY AND HIS FLEET.—THE BATTLE AT MANILA.—AN

EYE-WITNESS' STORY.—DELAY AND DOUBT IN THE EAST.—DULL TIMES FOR THE BLUE-JACKETS.—THE DISCOVERY OF CERVERA.—HOBSON'S
EXPLOIT.—THE OUTLOOK.

CHAPTER III.

THE SPANISH FLEET MAKES A DASH FROM THE HARBOR.—ITS TOTAL DESTRUCTION.—ADMIRAL CERVERA A PRISONER.—GREAT SPANISH

LOSSES.—AMERICAN FLEET LOSES BUT ONE MAN.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.
BLUE-JACKETS AT THE GUNS.
THE FIGHT WITH THE "BOXER."
THE SURRENDER OF THE "BOXER."
ON THE WAY TO LAKE ERIE.
HIRAM PAULDING FIRES THE GUNS.
BOARDING THE "REINDEER."
THE CAPTAIN OF THE "REINDEER."
THE END OF THE "REINDEER."
THE END OF THE "WASP."
THE DESCENT ON WAREHAM.
THE BATTLE OF THE BARGES.
SHARP-SHOOTERS.
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
THE BURNING OF WASHINGTON.
PLANNING THE ATTACK.
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
"PRESIDENT" AND "ENDYMION."
THE "PRESIDENT" TRIES TO ESCAPE.
FOUNDERED AT SEA.
PRIVATEERSMEN AT HOME.
PRISON CHAPLAIN AND JAILOR.
KING DICK AND HIS CHAPLAIN.
THE LAST VOLLEY OF THE WAR.
BLUE-JACKETS BEFORE VERA CRUZ.
THE "HARTFORD," FARRAGUT'S FLAGSHIP.
DEPARTURE OF A NAVAL EXPEDITION FROM PORT ROYAL.
FORT MOULTRIE.
ANDERSON'S COMMAND OCCUPYING FORT SUMTER.
MAJOR ROBERT ANDERSON.
FORT SUMTER UNDER FIRE.
DESTRUCTION OF NORFOLK NAVY-YARD.
THE "FRENCH LADY."
BLOCKADING THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
FLAG OF THE CONFEDERACY.
NAVAL PATROL ON THE POTOMAC.
THE FLEET OFF HATTERAS.
ATTACK ON THE HATTERAS FORTS.
SHORES OF ALBEMARLE SOUND.
CONTRABANDS ESCAPING TO FLEET.
FLAG OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
DESTRUCTION OF THE "ALBEMARLE."
NASSAU: THE HAUNT OF THE BLOCKADE-RUNNERS.
COTTON SHIPS AT NASSAU.
BLOCKADE-RUNNER IN NORTH CAROLINA SOUNDS.
PURSUING A BLOCKADE-RUNNER.
FORTRESS MONROE.
DU PONT'S EXPEDITION OFF CAPE HATTERAS.
THE OPENING GUN.
THE FIGHT AT HILTON HEAD.
"MERRIMAC" AND "CUMBERLAND."
BATTLE OF THE "MONITOR" AND "MERRIMAC."
HANDLING A GUN.
A RIVER-GUNBOAT.
MORTAR BOATS AT ISLAND NO. 10.
LOOTING A PRIZE.
SINKING OF THE "ALABAMA."
RESCUE OF CAPT. SEMMES.
THE END OF A PRIVATEER.
THE "NASHVILLE" BURNING A PRIZE.
"SHENANDOAH" BURNING WHALERS.
FORT PENSACOLA.
DESTRUCTION OF THE SCHOONER "JUDAH."
CAPTURE OF THE "HARRIET LANE."
LEVEE AT NEW ORLEANS BEFORE THE WAR.
FIRE-RAFT AT FORTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
BREAKING THE CHAIN.
RAM "TENNESSEE" AT MOBILE BAY.
NEW ORLEANS ON APPROACH OF FLEET.
THE "ARKANSAS" UNDER FIRE.
PORTER'S FLOTILLA ON THE RED RIVER.
DUMMY GUNBOAT PASSING FORTS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
PASSING THE VICKSBURG BATTERIES.
MANNING THE YARDS.
BAILEY'S DAM ON THE RED RIVER.
CUTTING OUT A BLOCKADE-RUNNER.
WAR-SHIPS OFF CHARLESTON HARBOR.

W

CHARLESTON BOMBARDED.
FIGHT AT MOBILE BAY.
CHARGE OF SAILORS AT FORT FISHER.
ATTACK ON A COREAN FORT.
WRECK OF UNITED STATES WAR-SHIPS OFF SAMOA.
WRECK OF THE "KEARSARGE."
CRUISER "COLUMBIA" (COMMERCE DESTROYER).
TORPEDO BOAT "CUSHING."
ARMORED CRUISER "NEW YORK."
DYNAMITE CRUISER "VESUVIUS."
UNITED STATES BATTLE-SHIP "INDIANA."
PARTIAL VIEW OF THE WRECK OF THE "MAINE."
DEWEY AT MANILA.
THE "ZEALANDIA" LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO WITH TROOPS FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
MORRO CASTLE, SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
THE PROTECTED CRUISER "OLYMPIA," ADMIRAL DEWEY'S FLAGSHIP.
ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY.
ACTING REAR ADMIRAL W. T. SAMPSON.
REAR-ADMIRAL MONTGOMERY SICARD.
COMMODORE W. S. SCHLEY.
CAPTAIN A. S. BARKER.
CAPTAIN "JACK" PHILIP.
COMMODORE J. CRITTENDEN WATSON.
ENSIGN WORTH BAGLEY OF THE "WINSLOW."
CADET GEORGE T. PETTENGILL.
CAPTAIN F. W. DICKINS.
COMMODORE JOHN A. HOWELL.
BRIG.-GEN. H. C. HASBROUCK.
CAPTAIN C. E. CLARK.
ADMIRAL F. M. BUNCE.
BOMBARDMENT OF SPANISH PORTS AND FLEET AT SANTIAGO DE CUBA, JULY 6, 1898.
"MARIA TERESA" AND "VIZCAYA" BURNING ON THE BEACH NEAR SANTIAGO.
THE FLAGSHIP "NEW YORK," FOLLOWED BY THE "VIXEN," CLOSING ON THE "CRISTOBAL COLON," WHILE THE LATTER WAS BEING
RUN ASHORE WEST OF SANTIAGO.
EFFECT OF A SINGLE SPANISH SHOT ON UPPER DECK OF THE BATTLE-SHIP "TEXAS".
BAND OF THE "OREGON" PLAYING FUNERAL MARCH AFTER THE DEFEAT OF THE "COLON".
ENGINEER BATTALION UNLOADING TOOLS AT SIBONEY.
AUXILIARY CRUISERS PROTECTING LANDING.
COMMODORE WATSON'S FLEET FOR SERVICE IN SPANISH WATERS.

Decoration

CHAPTER XII.

CAPTURE OF THE "SURVEYOR." — WORK OF THE GUNBOAT FLOTILLA. —
OPERATIONS ON CHESAPEAKE BAY. — COCKBURN'S DEPREDATIONS. —
CRUISE OF THE "ARGUS." — HER CAPTURE BY THE "PELICAN." — BATTLE
OF THE "ENTERPRISE" AND "BOXER." — END OF THE YEAR 1813 ON THE
OCEAN.

ith the capture of the "Chesapeake" in June, 1813, we abandoned our story of the naval events along the coast of the

United States, to follow Capt. Porter and his daring seamen on their long cruise into far-off seas. But while the men of the
"Essex" were capturing whalers in the Pacific, chastising insolent savages at Nookaheevah, and fighting a gallant but

unsuccessful fight at Valparaiso, other blue-jackets were as gallantly serving their country nearer home. From Portsmouth to
Charleston the coast was watched by British ships, and collisions between the enemies were of almost daily occurrence. In many of
these actions great bravery was shown on both sides. Noticeably was this the case in the action between the cutter "Surveyor" and the
British frigate "Narcissus," on the night of June 12. The "Surveyor," a little craft manned by a crew of fifteen men, and mounting six
twelve-pound carronades, was lying in the York River near Chesapeake Bay. From the masthead of the "Narcissus," lying farther
down the bay, the spars of the cutter could be seen above the tree-tops; and an expedition was fitted out for her capture. Fifty men,

led by a veteran officer, attacked the little vessel in the darkness, but were met with a most determined resistance. The Americans
could not use their carronades, but with their muskets they did much execution in the enemy's ranks. But they were finally
overpowered, and the little cutter was towed down under the frigate's guns. The next day Mr. Travis, the American commander,
received his sword which he had surrendered, with a letter from the British commander, in which he said, "Your gallant and desperate
attempt to defend your vessel against more than double your number, on the night of the 12th inst., excited such admiration on the part
of your opponents as I have seldom witnessed, and induced me to return you the sword you had so nobly used, in testimony of mine....
In short, I am at a loss which to admire most, the previous arrangement on board the 'Surveyor,' or the determined manner in which
her deck was disputed, inch by inch."

During the summer of 1813, the little gunboats, built in accordance with President Jefferson's plan for a coast guard of single-gun

vessels, did a great deal of desultory fighting, which resulted in little or nothing. They were not very seaworthy craft, the heavy guns
mounted amidships causing them to careen far over in even a sailor's "capfull" of wind. When they went into action, the first shot from
the gun set the gunboat rocking so that further fire with any precision of aim was impossible. The larger gunboats carried sail enough to
enable them to cruise about the coast, keeping off privateers and checking the marauding expeditions of the British. Many of the
gunboats, however, were simply large gallies propelled with oars, and therefore confined in their operations to bays and inland waters.
The chief scene of their operations was Chesapeake Bay.

This noble sheet of water had been, since the very opening of the year 1813, under the control of the British, who had gathered

there their most powerful vessels under the command of Admiral Cockburn, whose name gained an unenviable notoriety for the
atrocities committed by his forces upon the defenceless inhabitants of the shores of Chesapeake Bay. Marauding expeditions were
continually sent from the fleet to search the adjacent country for supplies. When this method of securing provisions failed, Cockburn hit
upon the plan of bringing his fleet within range of a village, and then commanding the inhabitants to supply his needs, under penalty of
the instant bombardment of the town in case of refusal. Sometimes this expedient failed, as when Commodore Beresford, who was
blockading the Delaware, called upon the people of Dover to supply him at once with "twenty-five large bullocks and a proportionate
quantity of vegetables and hay." But the sturdy inhabitants refused, mustered the militia, dragged some old cannon down to the water-
side, and, for lack of cannon-balls of their own, valiantly fired back those thrown by the British, which fitted the American ordnance
exactly.

Soon after this occurrence, a large party from Cockburn's fleet landed at Havre de Grace, and, having driven away the few militia,

captured and burned the town. Having accomplished this exploit, the marauders continued their way up the bay, and turning up into the
Sassafras River ravaged the country on both sides of the little stream. After spreading distress far and wide over the beautiful country
that borders Chesapeake Bay, the vandals returned to their ships, boasting that they had despoiled the Americans of at least seventy
thousand dollars, and injured them to the amount of ten times that sum.

By June, 1813, the Americans saw that something must be done to check the merciless enemy who had thus revived the cruel

vandalism, which had ceased to attend civilized warfare since the middle ages. A fleet of fifteen armed gallies was fitted out to attack
the frigate of Cockburn's fleet that lay nearest to Norfolk. Urged forward by long sweeps, the gunboats bore down upon the frigate,
which, taken by surprise, made so feeble and irregular a response that the Americans thought they saw victory within their grasp. The
gunboats chose their distance, and opened a well-directed fire upon their huge enemy, that, like a hawk attacked by a crowd of
sparrows, soon turned to fly. But at this moment the wind changed, enabling two frigates which were at anchor lower down the bay to
come up to the aid of their consort. The American gunboats drew off slowly, firing as they departed.

This attack infused new energy into the British, and they at once began formidable preparations for an attack upon Norfolk. On the

20th of June they moved forward to the assault,—three seventy-four-gun ships, one sixty-four, four frigates, two sloops, and three
transports. They were opposed by the American forces stationed on Craney Island, which commands the entrance to Norfolk Harbor.
Here the Americans had thrown up earthworks, mounting two twenty-four, one eighteen, and four six pound cannon. To work this
battery, one hundred sailors from the "Constellation," together with fifty marines, had been sent ashore. A large body of militia and a
few soldiers of the regular army were also in camp upon the island.

The British set the 22d as the date for the attack; and on the morning of that day, fifteen large boats, filled with sailors, marines, and

soldiers to the number of seven hundred, put off from the ships, and dashed toward the batteries. At the same time a larger force tried
to move forward by land, but were driven back, to wait until their comrades in the boats should have stormed and silenced the
American battery. But that battery was not to be silenced. After checking the advance of the British by land, the Americans waited
coolly for the column of boats to come within point-blank range. On they came, bounding over the waves, led by the great barge
"Centipede," fifty feet long, and crowded with men. The blue-jackets in the shore battery stood silently at their guns. Suddenly there
arose a cry, "Now, boys, are you ready?" "All ready," was the response. "Then fire!" And the great guns hurled their loads of lead and
iron into the advancing boats. The volley was a fearful one; but the British still came on doggedly, until the fire of the battery became
too terrible to be endured. "The American sailors handled the great guns like rifles," said one of the British officers, speaking of the
battle. Before this terrific fire, the advancing column was thrown into confusion. The boats, drifting upon each other, so crowded
together that the oars-men could not make any headway. A huge round shot struck the "Centipede," passing through her diagonally,
leaving death and wounds in its track. The shattered craft sunk, and was soon followed by four others. The order for retreat was given;
and, leaving their dead and some wounded in the shattered barges that lay in the shallow water, the British fled to their ships.
Midshipman Tatnall, who, many years later, served in the Confederate navy, waded out with several sailors, and, seizing the
"Centipede," drew her ashore. He found several wounded men in her,—one a Frenchman, with both legs shot away. A small terrier
dog lay whimpering in the bow. His master had brought him along for a run on shore, never once thinking of the possibility of the
flower of the British navy being beaten back by the Americans.

So disastrous a defeat enraged the British, who proceeded to wreak their vengeance upon the little town of Hampton, which they

sacked and burned, committing acts of shameful violence, more in accordance with the character of savages than that of civilized white
men. The story of the sack of Hampton forms no part of the naval annals of the war, and in its details is too revolting to deserve a
place here. It is a narrative of atrocious cruelty not to be paralleled in the history of warfare in the nineteenth century.

Leaving behind him the smoking ruins of Hampton, Cockburn with his fleet dropped down the bay, and, turning southward, cruised

along the coast of the Carolinas. Anchoring off Ocracoke Inlet, the British sent a fleet of armed barges into Pamlico Sound to ravage
the adjoining coast. Two privateers were found lying at anchor in the sound,—the "Anaconda" of New York, and the "Atlas" of
Philadelphia. The British forces, eight hundred in number, dashed forward to capture the two vessels. The "Atlas" fell an easy prey; but
the thirteen men of the "Anaconda" fought stoutly until all hope was gone, then, turning their cannon down upon the decks of their own
vessel, blew great holes in her bottom, and escaped to the shore. After this skirmish, the British landed, and marched rapidly to
Newbern; but, finding that place well defended by militia, made their way back to the coast, desolating the country through which they
passed, and seizing cattle and slaves. The latter they are said to have sent to the West Indies and sold. From Pamlico Sound Cockburn
went to Cumberland Island, where he established his winter quarters, and whence he continued to send out marauding expeditions
during the rest of the year.

Very different was the character of Sir Thomas Hardy, who commanded the British blockading fleet off the New England coast. A

brave and able officer, with the nature and training of a gentleman, he was as much admired by his enemies for his nobility, as
Cockburn was hated for his cruelty. It is more than possible, however, that the difference between the methods of enforcement of the
blockade on the New England coast and on the Southern seaboard was due to definite orders from the British admiralty: for the
Southern States had entered into the war heart and soul; while New England gave to the American forces only a faint-hearted support,
and cried eagerly for peace at any cost. So strong was this feeling, that resolutions of honor to the brave Capt. Lawrence were
defeated in the Massachusetts Legislature, on the ground that they would encourage others to embark in the needless war in which
Lawrence lost his life. Whatever may have been the cause, however, the fact remains, that Hardy's conduct while on the blockade won
for him the respect and admiration of the very people against whom his forces were arrayed.

BLUE-JACKETS AT THE GUNS.

On June 18 the British blockaders off New York Harbor allowed a little vessel to escape to sea, that, before she could be

captured, roamed at will within sight of the chalk cliffs of England, and inflicted immense damage upon the commerce of her enemy.
This craft was the little ten-gun brig "Argus," which left New York bound for France. She carried as passenger Mr. Crawford of
Georgia, who had lately been appointed United States minister to France. After safely discharging her passenger at L'Orient, the
"Argus" turned into the chops of the English Channel, and cruised about, burning and capturing many of the enemy's ships. She was in
the very highway of British commerce; and her crew had little rest day or night, so plentiful were the ships that fell in their way. It was
hard for the jackies to apply the torch to so many stanch vessels, that would enrich the whole crew with prize-money could they but be
sent into an American port. But the little cruiser was thousands of miles from any American port, and no course was open to her save
to give every prize to the flames. After cruising for a time in the English Channel, Lieut. Allen, who commanded the "Argus," took his

vessel around Land's End, and into St. George's Channel and the Irish Sea. For thirty days he continued his daring operations in the
very waters into which Paul Jones had carried the American flag nearly thirty-five years earlier. British merchants and shipping owners
in London read with horror of the destruction wrought by this one vessel. Hardly a paper appeared without an account of some new
damage done by the "Argus." Vessels were kept in port to rot at their docks, rather than fall a prey to the terrible Yankee. Rates of
insurance went up to ruinous prices, and many companies refused to take any risks whatever so long as the "Argus" remained afloat.
But the hue and cry was out after the little vessel; and many a stout British frigate was beating up and down in St. George's Channel,
and the chops of the English Channel, in the hopes of falling in with the audacious Yankee, who had presumed to bring home to
Englishmen the horrors of war.

It fell to the lot of the brig-sloop "Pelican" to rid the British waters of the "Argus." On the night of the thirteenth of August, the

American vessel had fallen in with a British vessel from Oporto, and after a short chase had captured her. The usual result followed.
The prisoners with their personal property were taken out of the prize, and the vessel was set afire. But, before the torch was applied,
the American sailors had discovered that their prize was laden with wine; and their resolution was not equal to the task of firing the
prize without testing the quality of the cargo. Besides treating themselves to rather deep potations, the boarding-crew contrived to
smuggle a quantity of the wine into the forecastle of the "Argus." The prize was then fired, and the "Argus" moved away under easy
sail. But the light of the blazing ship attracted the attention of the lookout on the "Pelican," and that vessel came down under full sail to
discover the cause.

Day was just breaking, and by the gray morning light the British saw an American cruiser making away from the burning hulk of her

last prize. The "Pelican" followed in hot pursuit, and was allowed to come alongside, although the fleet American could easily have left
her far astern. But Capt. Allen was ready for the conflict; confident of his ship and of his crew, of whose half-intoxicated condition he
knew nothing, he felt sure that the coming battle would only add more laurels to the many already won by the "Argus." He had often
declared that the "Argus" should never run from any two-master; and now, that the gage of battle was offered, he promptly accepted.

At six o'clock in the morning, the "Pelican" came alongside, and opened the conflict with a broadside from her thirty-two pound

carronades. The "Argus" replied with spirit, and a sharp cannonade began. Four minutes after the battle opened, Capt. Allen was
struck by a round shot that cut off his left leg near the thigh. His officers rushed to his side, and strove to bear him to his cabin; but he
resisted, saying he would stay on deck and fight his ship as long as any life was left him. With his back to a mast, he gave his orders
and cheered on his men for a few minutes longer; then, fainting from the terrible gush of blood from his wound, was carried below. To
lose their captain so early in the action, was enough to discourage the crew of the "Argus." Yet the officers left on duty were brave and
skilful. Twice the vessel was swung into a raking position, but the gunners failed to seize the advantage. "They seemed to be nodding
over their guns," said one of the officers afterward. The enemy, however, showed no signs of nodding. His fire was rapid and well
directed, and his vessel manœuvred in a way that showed a practised seaman in command. At last he secured a position under the
stern of the "Argus," and lay there, pouring in destructive broadsides, until the Americans struck their flag,—just forty-seven minutes
after the opening of the action. The loss on the "Argus" amounted to six killed and seventeen wounded.

No action of the war was so discreditable to the Americans as this. In the loss of the "Chesapeake" and in the loss of the "Essex,"

there were certain features of the action that redounded greatly to the honor of the defeated party. But in the action between the
"Argus" and the "Pelican," the Americans were simply outfought. The vessels were practically equal in size and armament, though the
"Pelican" carried a little the heavier metal. It is also stated that the powder used by the "Argus" was bad. It had been taken from one of
the prizes, and afterwards proved to be condemned powder of the British Government. In proof of the poor quality of this powder,
one of the American officers states that many shot striking the side of the "Pelican" were seen to fall back into the water; while others
penetrated the vessel's skin, but did no further damage. All this, however, does not alter the fact that the "Argus" was fairly beaten in a
fair fight.

While the British thus snapped up an American man-of-war cruising at their harbors' mouths, the Americans were equally fortunate

in capturing a British brig of fourteen guns off the coast of Maine. The captor was the United States brig "Enterprise," a lucky little
vessel belonging to a very unlucky class; for her sister brigs all fell a prey to the enemy. The "Nautilus," it will be remembered, was
captured early in the war. The "Vixen" fell into the hands of Sir James Yeo, who was cruising in the West Indies, in the frigate
"Southampton;" but this gallant officer reaped but little benefit from his prize, for frigate and brig alike were soon after wrecked on one
of the Bahama Islands. The "Siren," late in the war, was captured by the seventy-four-gun ship "Medway," and the loss of the "Argus"
has just been chronicled. Of all these brigs, the "Argus" alone was able to fire a gun in her own defence, before being captured; the rest
were all forced to yield quietly to immensely superior force.

In the war with Tripoli, the "Enterprise" won the reputation of being a "lucky" craft; and her daring adventures and thrilling escapes

during the short naval war with France added to her prestige among sailors. When the war with England broke out, the little brig was
put in commission as soon as possible, and assigned to duty along the coast of Maine. She did good service in keeping off privateers
and marauding expeditions from Nova Scotia. In the early part of September, 1813, she was cruising near Penguin Point, when she
sighted a brig in shore that had the appearance of a hostile war-vessel. The stranger soon settled all doubts as to her character by firing
several guns, seemingly for the purpose of recalling her boats from the shore. Then, setting sail with the rapidity of a man-of-war, she
bore down upon the American vessel. The "Enterprise," instead of waiting for the enemy, turned out to sea, under easy sail; and her
crew were set to work bringing aft a long gun, and mounting it in the cabin, where one of the stern windows had been chopped away
to make a port. This action rather alarmed the sailors, who feared that their commander, Lieut. Burrows, whose character was
unknown to them, intended to avoid the enemy, and was rigging the long gun for a stern-chaser. An impromptu meeting was held upon
the forecastle; and, after much whispered consultation, the people appointed a committee to go aft and tell the commander that the lads
were burning to engage the enemy, and were confident of whipping her. The committee started bravely to discharge their commission;

but their courage failed them before so mighty a potentate as the commander, and they whispered their message to the first lieutenant,
who laughed, and sent word forward that Mr. Burrows only wanted to get sea-room, and would soon give the jackies all the fighting
they desired.

THE FIGHT WITH THE "BOXER."

The Americans now had leisure to examine, through their marine-glasses, the vessel which was so boldly following them to the place

of battle. She was a man-of-war brig, flying the British ensign from both mastheads and at the peak. Her armament consisted of twelve
eighteen-pound carronades and two long sixes, as against the fourteen eighteen-pound carronades and two long nines of the
"Enterprise." The Englishman carried a crew of sixty-six men, while the quarter-rolls of the American showed a total of one hundred
and two. But in the battle which followed the British fought with such desperate bravery as to almost overcome the odds against them.

For some time the two vessels fought shy of each other, manœuvring for a windward position. Towards three o'clock in the

afternoon, the Americans gained this advantage, and at once shortened sail, and edged down toward the enemy. As the ships drew
near, a sailor was seen to climb into the rigging of the Englishman, and nail the colors to the mast, giving the lads of the "Enterprise" a
hint as to the character of the reception they might expect. As the vessels came within range, both crews cheered lustily, and continued
cheering until within pistol-shot, when the two broadsides were let fly at almost exactly the same moment. With the first fire, both
commanders fell. Capt. Blyth of the English vessel was almost cut in two by a round shot as he stood on his quarter-deck. He died
instantly. Lieut. Burrows was struck by a canister-shot, which inflicted a mortal wound. He refused to be carried below, and was
tenderly laid upon the deck, where he remained during the remainder of the battle, cheering on his men, and crying out that the colors
of the "Enterprise" should never be struck. The conflict was sharp, but short. For ten minutes only the answering broadsides rung out;
then the colors of the British ship were hauled down. She proved to be the sloop-of-war "Boxer," and had suffered severely from the
broadsides of the "Enterprise." Several shots had taken effect in her hull, her foremast was almost shot away, and several guns were
dismounted. Three men beside her captain were killed, and seventeen wounded. But she had not suffered these injuries without
inflicting some in return. The "Enterprise" was much cut up aloft. Her foremast and mainmast had each been pierced by an eighteen-
pound ball. Her captain lay upon the deck, gasping in the last agonies of death, but stoutly protesting that he would not be carried
below until he received the sword of the commander of the "Boxer." At last this was brought him; and grasping it he cried, "Now I am
satisfied. I die contented."

The two shattered brigs were taken into Portland, where the bodies of the two slain commanders were buried with all the honors of

war. The "Enterprise" was repaired, and made one more cruise before the close of the war; but the "Boxer" was found to be forever
ruined for a vessel of war, and she was sold into the merchant-service. The fact that she was so greatly injured in so short a time led a
London paper, in speaking of the battle, to say, "The fact seems to be but too clearly established, that the Americans have some
superior mode of firing; and we cannot be too anxiously employed in discovering to what circumstances that superiority is owing."

THE SURRENDER OF THE "BOXER."

This battle practically closed the year's naval events upon the ocean. The British privateer "Dart" was captured near Newport by

some volunteers from the gunboats stationed at that point. But, with this exception, nothing noteworthy in naval circles occurred during
the remainder of the year. Looking back over the annals of the naval operations of 1813, it is clear that the Americans were the chief
sufferers. They had the victories over the "Peacock," "Boxer," and "Highflyer" to boast of; but they had lost the "Chesapeake,"
"Argus," and "Viper." But, more than this, they had suffered their coast to be so sealed up by British blockaders that many of their best
vessels were left to lie idle at their docks. The blockade, too, was growing stricter daily, and the outlook for the future seemed gloomy;
yet, as it turned out, in 1814 the Americans regained the ground they had lost the year before.[Back to Contents]

Decoration

I

Decoration

CHAPTER XIII.

ON THE LAKES. — CLOSE OF HOSTILITIES ON LAKES ERIE AND HURON. — DESULTORY
WARFARE ON LAKE ONTARIO IN 1813. — HOSTILITIES ON ONTARIO IN 1814. — THE
BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN. — END OF THE WAR UPON THE LAKES.

n considering the naval operations on the Great Lakes, it must be kept in mind, that winter, which checked but little naval

activity on the ocean, locked the great fresh-water seas in an impenetrable barrier of ice, and effectually stopped all further
hostilities between the hostile forces afloat. The victory gained by Commodore Perry on Lake Erie in September, 1813,
gave the Americans complete command of that lake; and the frozen season soon coming on, prevented any attempts on the

part of the enemy to contest the American supremacy. But, indeed, the British showed little ability, throughout the subsequent course
of the war, to snatch from the Americans the fruits of the victory at Put-in-Bay. They embarked upon no more offensive expeditions;
and the only notable naval contest between the two belligerents during the remainder of the war occurred Aug. 12, 1814, when a party
of seventy-five British seamen and marines attempted to cut out three American schooners that lay at the foot of the lake near Fort
Erie. The British forces were at Queenstown, on the Niagara River; but by dint of carrying their boats twenty miles through the woods,
then poling down a narrow and shallow stream, with a second portage of eight miles, the adventurers managed to reach Lake Erie.
Embarking here, they pulled down to the schooners. To the hail of the lookout, they responded, "Provision boats." And, as no British
were thought to be on Lake Erie, the response satisfied the officer of the watch. He quickly discovered his mistake, however, when he
saw his cable cut, and a party of armed men scrambling over his bulwarks. This first prize, the "Somers," was quickly in the hands of
the British, and was soon joined in captivity by the "Ohio," whose people fought bravely but unavailingly against the unexpected foe.
While the fighting was going on aboard the vessels, they were drifting down the stream; and, by the time the British victory was
complete, both vessels were beyond the range of Fort Erie's guns, and safe from recapture. This successful enterprise certainly
deserves a place as the boldest and best executed cutting-out expedition of the war.

ON THE WAY TO LAKE ERIE.

Long before this occurrence, Capt. Arthur Singleton, who had succeeded to Perry's command, despairing of any active service on

Lake Erie, had taken his squadron of five vessels into Lake Huron, where the British still held the supremacy. His objective point was
the Island of Michilimackinac (Mackinaw), which had been captured by the enemy early in the war. On his way, he stopped and
burned the British fort and barracks of St. Joseph. At Mackinaw he was repulsed, with the loss of seventy men; after which he
returned to Lake Erie, leaving two vessels, the "Scorpion" and "Tigress," to blockade the Nattagawassa River. The presence of these
vessels irritated the British, and they at once set about preparations for their capture. On the night of the 3d of September the "Tigress"
was captured after a sharp struggle, which, as the British commanding officer said, "did credit to her officers, who were all severely
wounded." At the time of the attack, the "Scorpion" was several miles away, and knew nothing of the misfortune of her consort.
Knowing this, the British sent their prisoners ashore, and, hoisting the American flag over the captured vessel, waited patiently for their
game to come to them. They were not disappointed in their expectations. On the 5th the "Scorpion" came up, and anchored,
unsuspectingly, within two miles of her consort. At early dawn the next morning the "Tigress" weighed anchor; and, with the stars and
stripes still flying, dropped down alongside the unsuspecting schooner, poured in a sudden volley, and, instantly boarding, carried the
vessel without meeting any resistance.

With these two skirmishes, the war upon Lake Erie and Lake Huron was ended. But on Lake Ontario the naval events, though in no

case comparable with Perry's famous victory, were numerous and noteworthy.

In our previous discussion of the progress of the war upon Lake Ontario, we left Commodore Chauncey in winter quarter at

Sackett's Harbor, building new ships, and making vigorous efforts to secure sailors to man them. His energy met with its reward; for,
when the melting ice left the lake open for navigation in the spring of 1813, the American fleet was ready for active service, while the
best vessels belonging to the British were still in the hands of the carpenters and riggers. The first service performed by the American
fleet was aiding Gen. Pike in his attack upon York, where the Americans burned an almost completed twenty-four-gun ship, and
captured the ten-gun brig "Gloucester." The land forces who took part in this action were terribly injured by the explosion of the
powder-magazine, to which the British had applied a slow-match when they found they could no longer hold their position. This battle
was fought April 27, 1813. One month later, the naval forces co-operated with the soldiery in driving the British from Fort George, on
the Canada side of the Niagara River, near Lake Ontario. Perry came from Lake Erie to take part in this action, and led a landing
party under the fire of the British artillery with that dashing courage which he showed later at the battle of Put-in-Bay. The work of the
sailors in this action was cool and effective. Their fire covered the advance of the troops, and silenced more than one of the enemy's
guns. "The American ships," writes a British historian, "with their heavy discharges of round and grape, too well succeeded in thinning
the British ranks."

But by this time the British fleet was ready for sea, and left Kingston on the 27th of May; while Chauncey was still at the extreme

western end of the lake. The enemy determined to make an immediate assault upon Sackett's Harbor, and there destroy the corvette
"Gen. Pike," which, if completed, would give Chauncey supremacy upon the lake. Accordingly the fleet under Sir James Lucas Yeo,
with a large body of troops under Sir George Prescott, appeared before the harbor on the 29th. Although the forces which rallied to
the defence of the village were chiefly raw militia, the British attack was conducted with so little spirit that the defenders won the day;
and the enemy retreated, leaving most of his wounded to fall into the hands of the Americans. Yeo then returned to Kingston; and the
American fleet came up the lake, and put into Sackett's Harbor, there to remain until the completion of the "Pike" should give
Chauncey control of the lake. While the Americans thus remained in port, the British squadron made brief incursions into the lake,
capturing a few schooners and breaking up one or two encampments of the land forces of the United States.

Not until the 21st of July did the Americans leave their anchorage. On that day, with the formidable corvette "Pike" at the head of

the line, Chauncey left Sackett's Harbor, and went up to Niagara. Some days later, Yeo took his squadron to sea; and on the 7th of
August the two hostile fleets came in sight of one another for the first time. Then followed a season of manœuvring,—of challenging and
counter-challenging, of offering battle and of avoiding it,—terminating in so inconclusive an engagement that one is forced to believe
that neither commander dared to enter the battle for which both had been so long preparing. The American squadron consisted largely
of schooners armed with long guns. In smooth weather these craft were valuable adjuncts to the larger vessels, while in rough weather
they were useless. Yeo's squadron was mostly square-rigged, and was therefore equally serviceable in all kinds of weather. It seems
likely, therefore, that the Americans strove to bring on the conflict in smooth weather; while the British were determined to wait until a
heavy sea should lessen the force of their foes. In this dilemma several days passed away.

On the night of the 7th of August the wind came up to blow, and the rising waves soon demonstrated the uselessness of schooners

for purposes of war. At early dawn a fierce gust of wind caused the schooners "Hamilton" and "Scourge" to careen far to leeward.
Their heavy guns broke loose; then, crashing down to the submerged beams of the schooners, pulled them still farther over; and, the
water rushing in at their hatches, they foundered, carrying with them to the bottom all their officers, and all but sixteen of the men. This
loss reduced Chauncey's force to more of an equality with that of the British; yet for two days longer the manœuvring continued,
without a shot being fired. On the night of the 10th the two squadrons formed in order of battle, and rapidly approached each other. At
eleven o'clock a cannonade was begun by both parties, and continued for about an hour; though the shot did little material damage on
either side. At midnight the British, by a quick movement, cut out and captured two American schooners, and sailed away, without
suffering any damage.

A month then intervened before the next hostile meeting. In his despatches to his superior authorities, each commander stoutly

affirms that he spent the time in chasing the enemy, who refused to give him battle. Whether it was the British or the Americans that
avoided the battle, it is impossible to decide; but it seems reasonable to believe, that, had either party been really determined upon
bringing matters to an issue, the other could have been forced into giving battle.

On the 11th of September, the enemies met near the mouth of the Genesee River, and exchanged broadsides. A few of the British

vessels were hulled, and, without more ado, hauled off into the shallow waters of Ambert Bay, whither the Americans could not follow
them. Then ensued another long period of peace, broken at last by a naval action in York Bay, on the 28th, in which the British were
worsted and obliged to fly, though none of their ships were destroyed or captured. On Oct. 2, Chauncey accomplished a really
important work, by capturing five British transports, with two hundred and sixty-four men, seven naval and ten army officers. With this
achievement, the active work of the Ontario squadron ended for the year, as Chauncey remained blockading Yeo at Kingston, until the
approach of winter rendered that precaution no longer necessary.

The navigable season of 1814 opened with the British first upon the lake. The long winter had been employed by the belligerents in

adding to their fleets; a work completed first by Yeo, who put out upon the lake on the 3d of May, with eight square-rigged vessels, of
which two were new frigates. The Americans had given up their unseaworthy schooners, and had a fleet of eight square-rigged vessels
nearly ready, but still lacking the cordage and guns for the three new craft. Yeo thus had the lake to himself for a time, and began a
vigorous campaign by an attack upon Oswego, aided by a large body of British troops. Succeeding in this enterprise, he set sail for
Sackett's Harbor, and, taking up his position just outside the bar, disposed his vessels for a long and strict blockade. This action was
particularly troublesome to the Americans at that time; for their new frigates were just ready for their guns and cables, which could not
be brought overland, and the arrival of which by water was seemingly prevented by the blockade. It was in this emergency that the
plan, already described, for transporting the great cable for the "Niagara" overland, on the backs of men, was decided upon. Yeo
remained on guard at the mouth of the harbor until the 6th of June, then raised the blockade, and disappeared down the lake. For six
weeks the Americans continued working on their fleet, to get the ships ready for service. During this time the British gunboat "Black
Snake" was brought into the harbor, a prize to Lieut. Gregory, who had captured it by a sudden assault, with a score of sailors at his
back. On the 1st of July, the same officer made a sudden descent upon Presque Isle, where he found a British vessel pierced for
fourteen guns on the stocks, ready for launching. The raiders hastily set fire to the ship, and retreated before the enemy could get his
forces together.

It was July 31 before Chauncey set sail from Sackett's Harbor. He now had under his command a squadron of eight vessels, two of

which were frigates, two ship sloops-of-war, and eight brig-sloops of no mean power. Yeo had, to oppose this force, a fleet of no less
respectable proportions. Yet, for the remainder of the year, these two squadrons cruised about the lake, or blockaded each other in
turn, without once coming to battle. As transports, the vessels were of some service to their respective governments; but, so far as any
actual naval operations were concerned, they might as well never have been built. The war closed, leaving the two cautious
commanders still waiting for a satisfactory occasion for giving battle.

Such was the course of the naval war upon the Great Lakes; but the thunder of hostile cannon and the cheers of sailors were heard

upon yet another sheet of fresh water, before the quarrel between England and the United States was settled. In the n...